Yorkshire Steeplechaser

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End of 2011… Chevin Chase and Nos Galan

26/12 CHEVIN CHASE, 7 miles multi-terrain

1st Female (42nd overall), 46.52

Lots of good runs from fellow Otley runners... picture with the OAC Fairies : Tamara, Sharron and Laura

Bad chesty cough (the first of 3) wouldn’t have raced if the Chevin Chase wasn’t so important to me, as it is a route I run almost every week… up steep hills breathing felt significantly more difficult than usual losing some time and placing me further down the overall rankings than I would have liked. Amazing crowds, a massive trophy and sharing the podium with Jonny Brownlee made up for feeling ill.

A DW crew, of me, Zack, Stephen and Brit travelled down to a predictably wet Wales on the afternoon of NYE… We arrived in Mountain Ash to incredible crowds and atmosphere, lining the race route in centre of town. Lots of childrens races, a fair, fireworks and ‘Mystery Runners’ (Rugby Stars : Shane Williams and team mate Ian Evans) all ensured the event was memorable. This race was my first race in a North of England vest… 3 laps of the town, including a slight rise in the middle of each lap, technically a net uphill and according to other runners not a fast course. Started too far back, but soon settled at the front of the women. After the first lap Stephanie Barnes took the lead, setting a fast pace, until the last 600m when I kicked for the finish, winning the Ladies race by 5 seconds. The time of 16.44 was also a pb for me, and an Otley AC club record, no doubt a product of Steph’s fast pace making! Probably one of my proudest wins, as I had to dig really deep to find my finishing speed. An amazing way to finish 2011…. Well almost as good as the post race party in Cardiff!